fwii - it's primarily related to velocity. He doesn't have overpowering stuff and is still developing his breaking pitches. i think he has changed some perceptions this year (or maybe i'm misconstruing comments from ewade) as to being a top of the order type pitcher, but he won't have a mid 90's fastball to set up other pitches. he will have to be a command pitcher.
I also saw a breakdown - and unfortunately right now I can remember where - that Lyles tends to get a bunch of outs by working high with 4-seam rising fastballs. Historically, players like that that don't have overwhelming velocity (IIRC, Lyles is 90-92) can do well like that in the minors but not so much in the majors. The first example that comes to mind of that type of player is Jim Deshaies, who was a good-but-not-great MLB pitcher. If you want some analysis, check out baseball-intelect.com, which is a pay site, but happens to have some free stuff dealing with Lyles. On the second link, the second video on the page shows some good footage of him pitching. http://www.baseball-intellect.com/the-mechanical-adjustments-of-jordan-lyles-part-1/ http://www.baseball-intellect.com/jordan-lyles-ezekiel-spruill/
Thanks to both previous posters. Never heard of that site, Ottomaton. Looks great. I'll read up and check out the vids later. BTW, what does "fwii" stand for? I'm always trying to keep up with these things.
This report possibly? http://projectprospect.com/article/2009/10/20/jordan-lyles-scouting-report People's views on Lyles seem to improve with each start. He isn't Strasburg level, but neither was Oswalt, and his career turned out pretty good.
That may be it. I sort of agree, but Roy also used to sit at 95-96 through starts and he had that hammer curve when he first started. Raw stuff-wise, he would be a couple of steps below Strasburg or someone like Edison Volquez or David Price, and at least one full step below Roy. Really, my concern is that I'm beginning to think that the way people are fixating on him, if he turns into a workhorse #2/#3 type starter - sort of a career Randy Wolf/Brett Myers type - that people are going feel like he is a bust. But I think that sort of career is well within what we should expect, depending on how much more he grows. Really, I hope we don't set ourselves up to be disappointed if he turns out to be very good instead of great.
You're right. I myself and hoping he at least develops into a solid #2 guy. I forget Roy does have more velocity. Just guessing based on what I read, but Lyles seems to be a fast learner.
thescorer Greeneville Astros P Angel Gonzalez was lifted with no-hitter through 6. Team lost it in 7th (and final) inning. -Z
Jordan Lyles is a RHP. Lyles has a great work ethic and has learned how to pitch effectively using control. IMO he needs to stay in Corpus to continue working on his offspeed stuff (using his changeup more and working on his curve) than try to jump to AAA. Lyles may not be an ace, but he definitely could be an effective young pitcher from our own farm system, which we haven't had for quite some time (sans Bud Norris). I look forward to eventually seeing Lyles in Houston, if the best we can hope for is a #2 starter, then I'm happy with that.
BTW, in case anybody missed it, a couple of days ago on the 'stros pregame show, one of the people directly quoted Ed Wade as saying that Lyles will be in Corpus for the rest of the year. So don't be disappointed when that happens. He's already the youngest person on his current team. Also, a guy who is flying under the radar thanks in part to Lyles is Henry Villar, a Corpus reliever. Like Lyles, he skipped high A. The last couple of weeks I've been reading good things about him. I assume they are planning to see him in Houston about the same time. BTW, there's a new Lyles article on the Hooks' website: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/...&content_id=11685690&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp
Crazy how everyone was so worried about the kid. He's mashing the ball right now and Jay Austin just had a great game. Jonathan Meyer went 4-5.
Have the astros signed Delino Deshields jr. yet? What's our status with the majority of our prospects? I know we signed the other two top picks...
DeShields - not yet, probably not for awhile as most of the other top 15 prospects are unsigned too. Austin Wates - apparently close. Plutko - probably not. The rest of the picks in the top 10 rounds are signed.
Interesting--what's your take on Plutko and Wates? I don't know much about them. Did you feel good overall about the astros draft this season?
Ouch. In the grand scheme, it doesn't mean anything. But on Thursday, the rookie team in Greeneville lost... 21-0 Here's the box
